The vid below is a similar workout to the “Alternative Workouts for Burning Calories and Losing Fat” workout I put up recently, but minus the upper body work. This workout has forward and reverse sled drags, lunges, one leg ‘straight’ leg deadlifts, and Planks (which didn’t get filmed…) for a highly effective “functional” leg, butt, and general conditioning workout. If more people – especially women – did more workouts like this, using low tech tools, they would get far better and faster results. I see so much wasted time in the gym on all manner of “butt firming” machines, exercises, and other time wasters, which could all be done with a program such as this.

There’s so many productive “functional” movements that can be done with sandbags, and a few other things (such as the GymBoss Interval timer, etc) whether used as part of a program, as an “alternative” to their main program, etc, it’s a ‘no-brainer’ product in my view.

For high level athletes, MMA, bbers, etc, such a workout can be more of a GPP/Conditioning Day or part of the overall program, depending on goals, and how difficult one makes the workout. Add 3-4 45lb plates to that sled, and make the sand bag a 100lb plus bag, and all but an elite strong man will have a very challenging and productive workout.

If you can see this, then you might need a Flash Player upgrade or you need to install Flash Player if it's missing. Get Flash Player from Adobe.

If you want more info on sand bags (I use and recommend the sandbags from Sandbag Fitness Systems) Click HERE for more info.

Will Brink is the owner of the Brinkzone Blog. Will has over 15 years experience as a respected author, columnist and consultant, to the supplement, fitness, bodybuilding, and weight loss industry and has been extensively published. Will graduated from Harvard University with a concentration in the natural sciences, and is a consultant to major supplement, dairy, and pharmaceutical companies.

His often ground breaking articles can be found in publications such as Lets Live, Muscle Media 2000, MuscleMag International, The Life Extension Magazine, Muscle n Fitness, Inside Karate, Exercise For Men Only, Body International, Power, Oxygen, Penthouse, Women’s World and The Townsend Letter For Doctors.

Sumi, the sandbags – from Sandbag Fitness Systems- are linked in the above write up….standard drag sleds can be found many places, but I got mine from EliteFTS. Go to the "recommended products" section of the BrinkZone, hit link for Prowler, and that takes you to the EliteFTS site, makers of the Prowler and lots of other great stuff.

Will, what type of effect would it have if you did the lunges with the sandbag hoisted over your other shoulder? Meaning, when you were bending your left leg, you had the sandbag over your left shoulder. Any benefit if you had the sandbag over your right shoulder?

I guess one could try it and see Philip. Would probably make it harder to balance would be my guess, so it might add some added difficulty there. I'll try and remember to do that next time and see what the differences are.